I’m not sure I
understand how a film titled “Chapter 3” can be considered a prequel to the
first two chapters, though this is not nearly as disappointing as the lack of
ambition within the narrative. While it does an adequate job capturing the
essence of what made the first two films successful, the thrills and
entertainment feel far more obligatory than they did under the direction of
James Wan. Longtime horror collaborator and screenwriter Leigh Whannell gives
his first attempt at directing after years of providing the scripts for Wan,
but it simply feels like he is attempting to imitate this style rather than
establishing a voice of his own.

There isn’t a
narrative that requires more commitment from the audience to the material than
the revenge film. The basic structure always begins with an endurance test of
emotional torture forced upon the viewer, typically with relentless physical
abuse on an undeserving victim. Without this connection, the justification for
revenge would not be prevalent, and the purpose of the genre seems to rely upon
the audience’s participation in the primal urge for vengeance. Landmine Goes Click succeeded in
dragging me along on this affecting journey through the emotional ringer, with
the help of Levan Bakhia’s confidence as a director and the raw commitment in
the performances of his cast.